Council of Catholic Men: Catechism and Bible Study of the Catholic Church

In today’s episode of the Council of Catholic Men, we pray Day 6 of the Divine Mercy Novena, entrusting to Jesus the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. We begin and end in prayer, reflecting on the tenderness of Christ’s Heart and the Father’s delight in these souls, asking that the fragrance of their humility rise to God’s throne for the blessing of the whole world.

We pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet together—Our Father, Hail Mary, the Creed, the decades invoking the Sorrowful Passion, and the Trisagion—followed by powerful prayers of trust in the Precious Blood and Water and a closing consecration to God’s inexhaustible mercy. We conclude with the Memorare, asking Our Lady’s intercession as we continue our journey through the novena. God bless you all.

In today’s episode, we pray the Divine Mercy Novena with the Council of Catholic Men, focusing on Day Five: praying for those who have separated themselves from the Church. We begin with the traditional invocation of the Holy Trinity and the Memorare, then enter into the Novena intention and prayer, asking Jesus to draw wandering souls back into the unity of the Church through the light of His mercy.

We then pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet together—offering the Eternal Father the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world—followed by the Trisagion (Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One) and the closing prayer to the God of inexhaustible compassion. We conclude with a Hail Mary and a blessing, entrusting all listeners and their intentions to the Heart of Jesus, the fount of mercy.

In this Bible study and catechism session, we read 1 Peter, chapter 1, reflecting on its core themes of faith, hope, charity, holiness, and endurance amid trials. We read the text and explore its rich scriptural cross-references—from Leviticus’ call to holiness and Deuteronomy’s vision of God’s impartial justice to New Testament insights in Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, James, and Revelation—highlighting how our redemption by the precious blood of Christ secures an imperishable inheritance and summons us to sincere brotherly love. 

We then turn to the Catechism with St. Peter Canisius on the sixth article of the Creed, “He ascended into heaven,” contemplating Christ’s exaltation at the right hand of the Father and our hope to follow where the Head has gone before. Drawing on Psalms, the Gospels, Acts, Ephesians, Colossians, and John’s letters, we consider the Ascension as the pledge of our eternal inheritance and a mandate to seek the things above, live as obedient children, and remain steadfast in charity. We conclude in prayer, looking ahead to next week’s theme: “From thence He shall come to judge.”

In today’s Novena to Divine Mercy, we pray Day 4 of the nine-day devotion, focusing on those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus. We begin with opening prayers, including the Hail Holy Queen, and offer the Day 4 intention and meditation, asking the Eternal Father to draw every heart to the light of the Gospel and the inexhaustible mercy of Christ.

We then pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet together—offering the Eternal Father the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus for our sins and those of the whole world—followed by the Trisagion (Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One) and the concluding prayer to the God of endless mercy. We close with the Our Father and final blessing, entrusting all who are seeking and questioning to the compassionate Heart of Jesus. Thank you for praying with me for Day 4; may God bless you and fill you with His peace.

On this Easter Sunday, Day 3 of the Divine Mercy Novena, inviting all devout and faithful souls to immerse themselves in the ocean of Christ’s mercy. We begin with the traditional opening prayers, including the Memorare, and meditate on Jesus’ boundless compassion and the Father’s protective love for the faithful. Together, we pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet—offering Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to the Eternal Father and invoking mercy for us and the whole world.

We close with the Trisagion and powerful concluding prayers from the Diary of St. Faustina, entrusting ourselves to God’s holy will and asking for an increase in mercy, perseverance in faith, and protection against despair. Thank you for praying Day 3 of the novena with me. Christ is risen—may His mercy envelope the whole world. God bless you.

In this episode, we continue our Divine Mercy Novena with Day Two, uniting in prayer for the souls of priests and religious. Saint Faustina’s Diary and the intentions and prayers, asking the Eternal Father to endow consecrated men and women with strength, light, and the grace to guide others to salvation. 

We then pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy together—from the opening prayers and the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles’ Creed through the decades invoking, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” We close with the Holy God (Trisagion) and concluding prayers, placing our trust in Jesus’ unfathomable mercy. Thank you for praying Day Two—may God bless you abundantly as we continue this novena.

In this Good Friday episode, Day 1 of the Divine Mercy Novena, drawing from St. Faustina’s Diary and reflecting on Jesus’ invitation to bring all mankind—especially sinners—into the ocean of His mercy. We pray together the opening novena intention, Sister Faustina’s prayer for sinners, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, entrusting ourselves to the Heart of Jesus and asking the Eternal Father for mercy on the whole world.

We begin this nine-day journey toward Divine Mercy Sunday, uniting our hearts in trust—“Jesus, I trust in You”—and asking for the grace to remain within the Lord’s compassionate Heart, especially in times of trial and at the hour of our death. We conclude with the powerful prayers from St. Faustina’s Diary, renewing our hope in the inexhaustible treasury of God’s mercy.

In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism, we conclude our journey through the Epistle of Saint James by focusing on chapter 5. We reflect on James’s admonitions to the rich who oppress the poor, his call to patience, sincerity in speech, fervent prayer, and the power of the sacraments—especially the anointing of the sick and confession. Drawing from the Douay-Rheims Bible, we consider how Scripture plainly attests to Extreme Unction and sacramental confession, and how the prayer of a just person avails much, using Elijah as a living example of persevering prayer. We also meditate on the mission to convert the sinner and the hope that our prayers and works can help save souls and cover a multitude of sins.

From there, we turn to the Catechism of St. Peter Canisius on the fifth article of the Apostles’ Creed—Christ’s descent into hell and His glorious Resurrection. We share a chain of Scriptural testimonies (Romans, Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians, 1–2 Corinthians, 1 Peter, Acts, the Psalms, Zechariah, and Hosea) illuminating how Christ conquered death, liberated the righteous of old, and offers us new life and future glory. We then read a selection from St. Augustine’s City of God on the judgment of the dead and the meaning of “death and hell,” before closing with the stirring martyrdom accounts of Saints Appian and Aedesius from St. Alphonsus Liguori—witnesses of steadfast faith amid persecution. We conclude in prayer, committing ourselves to patience, mercy, confession, and hope in the Resurrection.

In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism, James chapter 4 in the Douay-Rheims, reflecting on the dangers of friendship with the world, the call to humility, and the command to resist the devil. We connected James’s charge—“God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble”—to Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5, drawing out the practical call to submit to God, purify our hearts, refrain from detraction, and entrust our plans to the Lord’s will. We emphasized that James consistently links authentic faith to works, urging a life of humility, patience, and sober judgment before God.

We then turned to the catechism with St. Peter Canisius on the holy sign of the Cross—its meaning, its ancient practice, and its power as testimony, patience, and spiritual armor—grounded in Scripture (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2–3) and illuminated by the Fathers (Athanasius, Ambrose, Augustine, Basil, Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, and more). In honor of March 25, we read St. Alphonsus on St. Irenaeus of Sirmium’s steadfast martyrdom and celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation through selections from the Golden Legend, contemplating Gabriel’s greeting, Mary’s prudent faith, and her fiat. We closed in prayer, looking ahead to James chapter 5 next week and then the First Epistle of Peter.

In this episode of Council of Catholic Men is a study of James 3 on the power and perils of the tongue, contrasting earthly ambition with the meekness of heavenly wisdom. We reflect on James’s vivid images—the bit, the rudder, and the spark—and consider how small words can build up or destroy, urging brotherhood over mastery, peace over contention, and humility over envy. The opening warning, “Be not many masters,” to Matthew 23:8, emphasizes our call to be servants and peacemakers whose speech flows from purity, mercy, and sincerity.

We then turn to St. Peter Canisius’s Large Catechism on the Creed’s fourth article—Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried—walking through a rich tapestry of Scripture (John, Matthew, Luke, Acts, Isaiah, Wisdom, Hebrews, Philippians, Romans, Revelation, and more). We contemplate Christ’s willing passion, his obedience unto death, and the continual consolation and cleansing flowing from his Blood, Cross, and Resurrection, calling us to suffer and be glorified with him. Finally, the powerful martyrdom of St. Basil of Ancyra, whose fearless confession before Emperor Julian the Apostate exemplifies steadfast faith, bold charity, and ultimate trust in the King of kings. We close with prayer and a reminder to live as brothers who make peace and speak life.